Trial of Verres

• The Trial of Gaius Verres, Govedrnor of Sicily, was conducted in Rome in 70 BCE, by Cicero.
• ‘In Verrem’ is a series of speeches made by Cicero and recorded during Verres’ Trial.

The Trial

• Gaius Verres (c.120-43 BCE) was a Roman Magistrate and Governor of Sicily.
• Verres was prosecuted by the cities of Sicily for misgovernment. Verres had pocketed the taxes provided by the Sicilian cities and the cities appointed Cicero to conduct the Trial.
• To defend himself, Verres appointed the best defense lawyer available, Quintus Hortensius.
• But in his opening speech, Cicero demolished all hope of defense.
• Hortensius immediately advised Verres to flee to Marseille, where he remained as an Exile until his death in 43 BCE.

In Verrem

• The Speeches were preserved in the Tironian notes, an early shorthand taken by Cicero’s secretary, Tiro, and are known as ‘In Verrem’.